Export and import rules

Outlook rules could be exported and imported from file. E.g., you can export rules to a file, send this file as an e-mail attachment or place it on a network share (or a local share) for backup purposes or to allow other users to access it.

Follow these steps to export your message rules to a file:

1. Do one of the following:

On the File tab, in the Info view, click the Manage Rules & Alerts button:

On the Home tab, in the Move group, click Rules and then select Manage Rules & Alerts...:

2. In the Rules And Alerts dialog box, click the Options button:

3. In the Options dialog box, click Export Rules..., and then select a path for the file in the resulting Save Exported Rules As dialog box (a standard file/save dialog box).

4. To save the rules using either Microsoft Outlook 2002, Microsoft Outlook 2000 or Microsoft Outlook 98 format, select a format in the Save As Type drop-down list:

5. Click Save.

You can export your rules in any of four formats, depending on the version of Outlook used by the people with whom you want to share your rules. If you need to share with various users, export using the earliest version of Outlook. Later versions will be able to import the rules because they are forward-compatible.

Follow these steps to import message rules from a file:

1. Open Rules And Alerts... dialog box.

2. In the Rules And Alerts dialog box, click the Options button.

3. Click Import Rules..., and then select a path for the file in the resulting Open Imported Rules As dialog box (a standard file/save dialog box).

4. Click Open.

You can export your rules in any of four formats, depending on the version of Outlook used by the people with whom you want to share your rules. If you need to share with various users, export using the earliest version of Outlook. Later versions will be able to import the rules because they are forward-compatible.